John Berry / The Post-StandardSgt. Paul Brennan, supervisor of Onondaga County Sheriff's Department's aviation unit, stands next to the sheriff's Air 1 helicopter in this Oct. 6, 2010 photo. The county Legislature agreed Tuesday to continue funding the helicopter for six months.

Syracuse, NY - The Onondaga County sheriff's helicopter is safe, for now.

The county Legislature today unanimously approved a resolution to continue to fund the Air 1 helicopter for six months while the sheriff seeks a certification that lets the county charge people transported in the craft.

As they struggle to cut $45 million from County Executive Joanie Mahoney's proposed 2011 budget, legislators had considered selling the helicopter to raise about $1.8 million and to avoid $1 million per year in operating costs.

Sheriff Kevin Walsh and officials from area fire departments urged the Legislature to save the helicopter from the budget axe.

In addition to requiring the sheriff to seek a commercial certification for Air 1 so that accident victims transported to hospitals on the helicopter can be billed, lawmakers also agreed to require Walsh to create a nonprofit organization that can raise money to help pay for the helicopter's operation.

The Legislature is expected to vote today on an amended 2011 budget, but had not done that as of 5 p.m.

We'll provide updates on the Legislature's budget votes as they become available.